HI there can anyone offer me any kind of help, I'm 44 years lass, that have a blood condition Called POLYCYTHEMIA VERA,where my bone marrow making too much red blood cell, high in the hematocrit levels, and hemoglobin levels, and low in Platelets level. Just recently my gp has been trying to get the fluid around my ankle and leg down, by giving me frusemide, I went back to him again 2 weeks ago, that time he up the dose, and warned me that it may be a heart problem, take some blood test, do xray on my chest, he was hoping for results would come from more the blood test, than the x ray, he told me that it could either be Liver, or Kidneys. Last week I went back and result are that it looks more like a heart problem, sending me to cardiac specialist, they apparently will do a echo test., How do I get rid of this fluid? I have fat stomach, which I have never had in my life, I have 3 beautiful girls, and I look like I'm pregnant and due to drop.lol I am always tired, Itchy all the time, I'm on high blood pressure pills, Gabapentin for pain. If you can help me out anyway I be happy to find, I hope it wont take long to hear from the CS. thanks for reading. X

The following user gives a hug of support to debnz:Missys mom (10-31-2012)

hi, that gabapentin can cause swelling. Had the problem with my mother in law. they thought it was her heart, went to cardiologist and stuff. changed her from gaba to topamax and she lost 40 lbs, swelling went away. check into it. Cathy

hi, that gabapentin can cause swelling. Had the problem with my mother in law. they thought it was her heart, went to cardiologist and stuff. changed her from gaba to topamax and she lost 40 lbs, swelling went away. check into it. Cathy

Oh thanks for that Cathy, I sure will check that out, I got a very swollen stomach, look like i'm 6-7 months preg. swollen legs, ankles,I'm surely not that for sure, my poor Gp is bashing his head trying to figure my underlying cause of my poor health.WE know few problems, like fibromyalgia., They tried to take me off the gabapentin, and my legs felt like they were having huge muscle spasm, and cramps, and felt like they were heavy, and some time they were like they were jelly. same with arms, and headaches something shocking, I'm back to full night sleep again, I don't have pin and needles in my legs, now but i only have it in my hands and talk about dead fingers and hands , my doc says that sounds like carpal tunnel, it might be the same in the legs tarsal tunnel syndrome. I have spent less time on the computer, as I don't have a laptop. probably pretty good idea for these problem. anyway thanks again for your suggestion I shall look into that.

the topomax will help with those symptoms too and it actually will take some of the fluid off in the first week you'll lose like 5 lbs. works really weird. if you do it just start at a low dose 25 mg at night and slowly increase weekly while going down on the gaba. I really think its the gaba. my mother in law couldn't even get her shoes on some mornings and would have to wear her house slippers to the drs. wears regular shoes now and went from a 22 to a 14! just please give it a try. Cathy

The Following User Says Thank You to noevr For This Useful Post:debnz (10-31-2012)

Well I went back to my doc,cos the swelling was getting really alarming, My GP put me into the hospital, into the cardio ward. they did all sorts of test, and thank god it wasn't my Heart, they found that My kidneys were Dehydrated, god knowns why that was. Any how I back home now and pleased to be home. MUst go see ya next time, keep in touch